With all of Idaho’s prisons above capacity, county jails packed full and hundreds of Idaho inmates being held temporarily at a private jail in Texas, what Idaho needs is a $500 million prison expansion, including a new 1,510-bed state prison, the state Board of Correction was told Monday.

“I think it’s time,” said board member Dr. David McClusky.

“We don’t have the option to do nothing,” said board Chairwoman Debbie Field. “We have to do something. That’s our only option.”